Thatched roofs were used in Japan since the oldest times. Although these roofs require full replacement every 30 to 50 years, today there are still over 100 thousand historical buildings featuring thatched roofs, among them traditional houses, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and tea houses.

To maintain them, traditional methods and materials are employed, varying from region to region. There’s even a cultural association dedicated to thatching, which works to maintaining traditional houses with thatched roofs. Photographed here is a thatched roof tea house at the Hōgon-in temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto.